The Inside Story On Standard Wheelchairs, Electric Wheelchairs, And Powered Scooters.

Possibilities are that at some point in your life you will be faced with using or buying a mobility aid device. Thanks to my discussion with medical equipment provider Mike Messer, I was able to write this very educational article on manually operated wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs, and mobility scooters. Knowing the distinction between these units is essential if you are preparing a buy so we sincerely hope that this info will be quite helpful.

The two principal types of manual wheelchairs are folding frame wheelchairs and rigid style wheelchairs. Rigid frame wheelchairs have a seat back that folds up for transport. The wheels have axles that can be quick released making it easy to permit them to fit into a vehicle. Most people are able to load their rigid wheelchair into a vehicle without help, because they are constructed of light-weight aluminum and generally weigh a mere 10 to 20 pounds without wheels. Folding frame wheelchairs are traditional wheelchairs or sometimes known as as conventional wheelchairs. They are often weighty and sometimes challenging for a user to load into a vehicle. They are constructed with a frame that may be easy to fold, but as pointed out before, these kinds of chairs may call for you to need help loading them into your vehicle.

Electric wheelchairs generally work with belts and gears in order to function. They are typically quiet in their operation. Belt drive versions require more routine maintenance than gear drive versions. These styles come in all shapes and sizes and greatly vary in their sturdiness. Light frame types usually are fantastic for in house use while the heavy frame types fair better outdoors. There are back wheel drive units which are the most traditional and popular. They provide inferior turning capabilities but have quicker speeds. There are Front wheel drive types which provide improved and tighter turning functions. Because of the ease of turning however, these types have a reduced speed to insure safety. Mid wheel electrical wheelchairs have the tightest turning abilities but also have the propensity to be unsteady when stopping and starting off. They use extra castor wheels and tip-over proof wheels but this might make it more challenging to use these on harsh terrain.

Mobility scooters are the most desired type of motorized chair. They can be bought in three and four wheel models and are available with front side and rear wheel drive. They are more affordable than electric powered wheelchairs and many are developed for their ease of mobility and ease of transport. They steer similar to a bike and have controls which allow you to manage speed. They are much lighter in weight and can be disassembled easily to transfer around town. Front wheel Drive versions can typically carry up to 160 lbs. and are designed more for inside use while rear wheel drive versions can carry a max of 250 to 500 pounds depending on the model, and can better handle the outdoor terrain if necessary.

Many thanks and I hope you learned some valuable information from this write-up. Best of luck and I hope you are able to make an well informed decision when buying the mobility device that is most effective for you.